Gao Shi (below) 26

  Fu Heng thought of Hong Li's gloomy face, and all the way he suppressed his smile. When he returned to the mansion, he couldn't wait to run to Xinyi Valley and burst out laughing.

  "What's making you so happy today?" Yunzhu put down the book in her hand and asked lightly.

  Taking over the tea from Suwen Duan, Fu Heng took a big sip and suddenly felt his heart and chest relax completely. "Today we were practicing horseback riding and archery at school, didn't expect the Emperor to come..."

  The content of the examination for all schools is riding and archery. Riding, as expected, was performed best by Hongli, and Fu Heng was not unexpected either. Except that Hongli's riding and shooting skills were indeed superb, he had recently taken some kind of stimulant and was showing off in front of the emperor everywhere...

  The emperor praised him and said: "Let me see your archery skills again, those who hit the target will be rewarded, and those who miss will be punished."

  The Manchu people were skilled in shooting while riding, and the test was to shoot at moving targets. The shooter had to ride a horse at full gallop and shoot with a bow. Hongxiao was not very good at this, and the younger princes could not compare to the older ones. The imperial sons-in-law and the ladies-in-waiting were even less skilled. Only Fu Heng's skills were exceptional, but he had secretly competed with Hongli before, so in front of the emperor, he couldn't show off too much, and hid his true abilities. He only hit eight out of ten targets, while Hongli hit every single one, looking confident and majestic.

  After the archery was finished, the emperor discussed rewards and punishments. Unexpectedly, those who shot well were punished, while those who didn't hit or only hit one or two arrows were rewarded. Hongli asked: "Imperial Father, I hit every arrow, why wasn't I rewarded but instead punished?"

  The emperor said, "What I said was 'zhong di', you said 'zhong de', why shouldn't you be punished?"

  Everyone was sweating profusely.

  Honglie Heixian: "If it's like that, isn't it a very simple matter?"

  The emperor smiled and said: "It's actually an easy thing, who made it difficult for you?"

  Everyone burst out laughing. Hongli stood awkwardly to the side, his frustration hard to put into words. He had originally thought that if he performed well, he would ask a few more eunuchs to speak on his behalf and then find an opportunity to mention Yunzhu's matter in front of the Emperor, but he hadn't expected things to turn out like this... I say, Imperial Father, if you want to show off your sense of humor, don't use this kind of method, okay? Your son really can't take it.

  Hongli was indeed the favored son of heaven, who had been diligent in his studies and martial arts since childhood. Among Yongzheng's several sons, only he was valued by Kangxi, and Yongzheng openly cultivated him as the crown prince, cultivating his proud and perfectionistic personality (which later became a "perfect" facade). Ordinary people couldn't criticize him, except for his father.

  Many times, he thought he had done a good job, but Yongzheng could always pick out many mistakes. Sometimes, like now, the reason was so ridiculous that it made people laugh and cry at the same time.

  After the emperor left, everyone else lost interest and dispersed.

  After listening to Fu Heng's description, Yunzhu couldn't help but burst out laughing and thought to herself: I had seen many online materials before saying that Yongzheng was very rich in life interest, even the comments on the memorials were sometimes humorous. I didn't expect that there would be such funny moments in daily life... It's really, too cute!

  Hongli must be very depressed, haha, but it's solved a lot of trouble for Chunhe. That guy relied on Chunhe being his study partner and always found various reasons to send him things - obviously knowing they were used by girls or what he liked himself, really... Seeing her brother looking unhappy, she wasn't happy either, thinking that next time she would get revenge, but unexpectedly the Emperor took action.

  It's a must to think of ways to make him live a few more years, to wear out that peacock. With this great god around, his own future days will also be easier.

  After leaving the school grounds, Hongli returned to Yuqing Palace in a gloomy mood, with Wu Shu following behind him with his head lowered, not daring to say much.

  "The stream is deep and unfathomable, with only a solitary cloud hiding in the distance. The dew on the pine trees reflects the faint moonlight, which still shines for you. The thatched pavilion is shaded by flower shadows, and the medicinal garden is nourished by the tender shoots of grass. I too will bid farewell to this era, as the western mountains are home to a flock of cranes..."

  Under the warm sun, a gentle breeze blew, and a soft, melodious voice seemed to come from behind the artificial hill, dispersing some of the stagnation in Hongli's mind. He stopped in his tracks and looked towards the source of the sound, only to see the rippling pond, tender green willow branches swaying gently in the wind, and a young girl dressed in palace attire, playing with the fish in the pond by dangling a willow branch, humming poetry one moment and giggling "heh heh" the next as the fish nibbled on the leaves. Her pale face, curved eyebrows, bright eyes shining like autumn water, and cherry-red lips seemed especially lovely in the sunlight.

  What a beautiful painting of spring willow and beauty! Spring brings new color to the willows, while the beauty is like the early spring willows, fresh and delicate, bright as water.

  "Ah!" The palace maid suddenly discovered Hongli standing beside her, her small face panicked for a moment, then she threw away the willow branch in her hand and knelt down timidly: "Slave, slave is guilty..."

  Hongli saw that she was so frightened that she couldn't even speak properly, and her usual bright and lovely smile had turned into a nervous and uneasy expression, like a little rabbit. He felt both pity and amusement, and intentionally teased her: "What crime have you committed?"

  The little palace maid lowered her head, revealing a section of white and tender neck. "Slave...". After thinking for half a day, she couldn't say what crime she had committed, so she said: "Slave doesn't know about the fourth prince's affairs, slave...slave also broke a willow branch."

  What crime is this? Hongli clenched his fist and put it to his mouth, coughing lightly, "Can you be on duty at this time?"

  She shook her head cutely.

  "Ignorance is no excuse, I passed by here without informing anyone in advance, what's your fault? Besides, breaking a willow branch doesn't count as anything."

  She smiled and nodded her head, saying: "That's because Master is kind-hearted, I thank you."

  Her smile was as fresh and beautiful as the first spring flower, Hongli's heart moved, asked: "What is your name, where are you serving, how come I haven't seen you before."

  "I'm a low-ranking maid named Gao Luowei, responsible for sweeping the library in the rear palace. I've only been assigned to Yuqing Palace for half a year now."

  It turned out that she had been here since last year, no wonder. I myself have rarely been to the back temple in more than half a year, and when I wanted to read a book, I would ask someone to fetch it for me. When I went there, I mostly stayed in the study of Dong Er House, so it's no surprise that I had never seen her before. "Can you recognize characters?" The poem she just recited was probably by Chang Jian, a poet and recluse from the Tang Dynasty, and her temperament is not common either.

  Gaolü Weijun replied respectfully: "I was at home and followed my father to learn a few things, so I was assigned to work in the library."

  The mother who can raise such a daughter...

  Hongli's eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards: "Oh, who is your father?"

  "My father's name is Gao Bin."

  "It turned out to be the daughter of a noble family. You'd better get up and respond." His expression changed slightly, his voice still clear and melodious, but when heard by Gao Luowei, it seemed even more gentle.

  "Yes." Gaolü Weimiao slowly stood up, still slightly lowering her head, standing in front of Hongli, so delicate and elegant, the pale blue palace maid's uniform on her couldn't conceal her fresh and gentle temperament at all, but instead made her outstanding natural beauty even more apparent.

  "Gao Daren has made contributions to the court, why not ask for a pardon and exemption from selection instead of sending you into the palace as a servant?" Generally, those who serve as leaders or officials in the Imperial Household Department, or those who enter officialdom through the Imperial Household Department, will ask for pardons and exemptions for their daughters to avoid being selected as servants, or they will use some money to bribe people during the selection process. But Gao Bin is doing the opposite!

  "The fourth brother doesn't know, I have an older sister who has already been exempted from the small selection. My father often reminds us that imperial grace is profound and as slaves, it's our duty to serve the emperor well and not be arrogant because of his favor, but instead think about how to repay him. Our family has already received imperial favor and exempted my sister, so how can we be greedy for more exemptions? If everyone does this, who will attend to their masters... Anyway, as a slave, I'll be able to leave the palace at 25 and reunite with my family..." She spoke softly and politely, but her eyebrows and eyes were extremely expressive, not making anyone feel bored or uninterested, instead having a kind of soothing effect like listening to a flower fairy."

  Hongli smiled: "Gao Daren is indeed loyal and honest, from tomorrow on, you will be transferred to...". He originally wanted to say that he would be transferred to the inner study to serve as a scribe, but then remembered that there were many things inside that he didn't want others to know about, so he changed his words: "You'll be in charge of serving tea by my side."

  Gao Luowei bowed and replied: "Yes."

  This matter was transmitted to Fucha's ears in just a moment, and she was so angry that she slapped the kang table fiercely and scolded: "Monster!"

  "The master's anger is not worth it." Ping Mama personally brought her a nourishing soup and advised, "It's better to take care of your body and strive to get pregnant with a little prince as soon as possible."

  "Mother said it was right, I just couldn't help but feel angry that this little demon could...". Although she had been prepared for a long time, when she really heard that Hongli was going to let her serve by his side, she still felt suffocated.

  Watching Fuling'er finish the tonic, Ping Mama smiled contentedly: "It seems that little demon also wants to cultivate feelings with Fourth Brother before the legitimate daughter-in-law enters the house."

  The women in this palace are all stupid. Fuling Ah slowly calmed down, took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth, "Fortunately, we reacted quickly, otherwise, if she had gotten closer to Master's side or grown up for a few more days, it would have been even harder to deal with."

  "That's right," Ping's eyes flashed with a cold light, and she said coldly: "The old slave had prepared several copies for insurance." They were all written by her own hand, but unfortunately, the little palace maid who shared a room with Madame Gao was also implicated.

  "Auntie, let's just forget about this matter from now on, lest there be ears on the other side of the wall."

  "Yes." Seeing her master becoming stronger and more determined every day, Ping Mama was also delighted. Only in this way could she better survive in the palace.